Five Houston Culinary Splurges

Treat yourself to a decadent holiday feast.

put down the mimosas and Bloody Marys for a second and focus on the early morning.

It's the holiday season. A time for gift giving and celebration. A time for splurging, right? After all, you've worked hard this year. You deserve a reward. And what better way to reward yourself than with a blow-your-mind meal?

Behold, our top picks for decadent foodie splurges in Houston.

Photo Courtesy of Fung's Kitchen

Live Alaskan King Crab at Fung's Kitchen: one of the most decadent foodie pleasures you'll ever experience.

Kaitlin Steinberg

Harry's does French toast the decadent way: with Greek yogurt ice cream and a baklava filling.

5. Whole fresh Alaskan king crab at Fung's Kitchen, $400+ ($50 per pound for 7- to 12-pound king crab)

If you love crab, you know that eating fresh crab is one of the ultimate foodie pleasures. The quality of the meat is so high that it's positively sinful. At Fung's Kitchen, you don't just get the run-of-the-mill variety. You can order the king of all crabs: live whole Alaskan king crab. The approximately ten-pound king crab can be prepared in three ways and can serve several people. Just call in advance to make sure it's available, and then let the crab party begin.

4.Toro kama at Kata Robata ($1 per ounce, approximately 30 to 60 ounces)

It's rich, it's smoky, it's incredibly flavorful, and there are usually only one or two available each week. If scarcity is one of those things that you hanker for, call Kata Robata and reserve their toro kama. Known only to die-hard sushi eaters, thekama, or collar area, of the blue fin tuna is as marbled and fatty as the prized belly, or o-toro. Chef Manabu Horiuchi and his team grill the kama on authentic bincho tan Japanese coals to yield one of the most decadent preparations of fish you'll ever have the pleasure of tasting.

3. Whole lobe of foie gras at Provisions, $125

Foie gras may be banned in California, but here in Houston, it's still king. If you love the delicacy, why stop at ordering just a small tranche? At Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence Gallivan's Provisions, you can order the whole lobe. Over the top? Absolutely. Blow-your-mind decadent? Mais, bien sûr. Get the whole thing delivered to your table in all its glory and get ready to feast. (Sharing is ­recommended.)

There are tomahawk steaks, and then there is the dry-aged long bone-in Kobe beef rib eye from Killen's Steakhouse. Weighing from 32 to 36 ounces, this Fred Flintstone-style heavyweight contender is fantastically proportioned to satisfy your wildest steak dreams. Though it sounds big enough for two, the succulent, flavorful meat is so tender and richly flavored that you'll want to hoard it for yourself.

1. White Alba truffle souffléat Tony's, $59.

Splurge on the white Alba truffle soufflé (created this year for white truffle season), and you just might die a happy food death. I speak from experience: I got one for my birthday, and it was without a doubt the best thing I put in my mouth all year. Light and fluffy, every bite of the incredibly savory soufflé is accompanied by the true scent and flavor of freshly shaved white Alba truffle. Words do not do it justice: It's something you should experience at least once in your life. Absolutely. Totally. Divine.
_____________________

Best of Houston

Rest of the Best 2013Houston's Top 10 breakfast spots.

Kaitlin Steinberg

Our 2013 Best of Houston® winners have been announced, but in most cases, picking the best item in any category was no easy task. In order to show off all the culinary greatness Houston has to offer, we'll be rounding up the "rest of the best" in some of our favorite categories during the next several months. Bon appétit!

"I like to use 'I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!' on my toast in the morning, because sometimes when I eat breakfast, I like to be incredulous. How was breakfast? Unbelievable." — comedian Demetri Martin

Demetri Martin is a funny guy, but he's wrong. You really, really don't need to use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! to have an unbelievable breakfast. Instead, why not try incredible homemade salsa? Preposterously good Hollandaise sauce? Divine saffron yogurt?

Seriously, skip the faux butter (unless you're at a greasy spoon; then, by all means) and hit up one of these spots for the best breakfast in town. Not brunch, mind you. Put down the mimosas and Bloody Marys for a second and focus on the early morning, when all you really want is some perfectly fried eggs or fluffy pancakes. We'll get to brunch later.

But for now, rise and shine! And eat.

10. Taqueria La Macro

This year's winner for best breakfast tacos is also on our list for best breakfast spots because duh. We're in Texas. If we had an official state breakfast, it would probably be breakfast tacos, and La Macro makes some of the best in town. This small taco shop just north of downtown offers real trompo tacos, complete with grilled pineapple chunks on top. Owner Saul Obregon is always present with a warm smile, and his staff is ready to dish out heaps of chorizo or potato and eggs into hot, fluffy flour tortillas that never get gummy or tough. And the housemade green and red salsas don't mess around; they'll wake you up more than any cup of coffee could ever hope to.